Introducing the Martin Yale Mark VII Paper Folding Machine

Martin Yale has a rich history in being one of the oldest and most well-known manufacturers of paper folding machines. Popular classics include the 1501X (CV7), 1217A and the 959. A new machine from Martin Yale, which actually replaces the very popular Model 959, is the Mark VII paper folding machine. This is an overview of the new machine.

This machine is not your standard paper folding machine for folding onesies and twosies. This is a high-end paper folding machine designed for industrial or daily folding applications. It can easy keep up with most copy center and business folding needs. The motor runs at a whopping 35,000 sheets per minute. This is fast enough to quickly burn through the 350 sheet hopper capacity.

Because it is a bottom-feeding folding machine, it is very easy to load more paper into the hopper and keep the machine running. Unlike the older 1501x and 1217A, the Mark VII has a superior feeding system that does not require the paper to be pre-fanned. An adjustable speed control makes it easy to fine-tune this machine to handle a variety of paper sizes and thicknesses.

Speaking of size and thickness, the Mark VII can handle paper sizes ranging from 3 ½” x 4 ¼” up to 14″ x 20″. I have used a lot of folding machines over the past decade and I can tell you that this paper range is very impressive. This makes it easy to fold brochures, menus, letters, invoices and much more. It can also handle a wide range of paper thicknesses. It specifically can handle 16-lb. bond up to 80-lb. index.It can also be outfitted with perforating and scoring wheels for additional projects.

Most friction-feed folding machines will choke on coated paper. This is because the slick surface slides on the silicon and rubber rollers, resulting in a jam. The Mark VII is actually designed to be able to handle coated paper. It can also handle laser paper, copy paper and even thicker card stock. It is very versatile when it comes to paper handling.

The Mark VII is made out of heavy-duty metal components. Even the exit tray, paper guides and folding plates are made out of metal. The build quality is extremely good.

This folding machine can create all the folds that you need most. This includes the:

Letter Fold

Z-Fold

Double-Parallel Fold

Half Fold

Church Fold

Engineering Fold

These are the six most common folds used today. Because the folding plates are manually adjusted, it is easy to create custom variations of all these folds. The folds themselves are clearly marked on the folding plates, making folds easy to set and adjust. While this isn’t a programmable folding machine, it does include a digital paper counter, which is pretty nice.

Overall this is a solid paper folding machine and is perfect for industrial or commercial folding applications. It weighs just over 100 pounds, so it isn’t going to fit on all tables, but will work on most desks and countertops. It is a robust machine designed for continuous operation.